Aminopropylcadaverine,a polyamine, is the final product of aminopropylcadaverine biosynthesis pathway. Polyamines are important for cell growth and are believed to be involved in many processes including DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, as well as membrane integrity and resistance to stress, to name a few. Cadaverine and aminopropylcadaverine are alternative polyamines that can at least partially substitute for purtrescine and spermidine, the primary polyamines found in E. coli. Lysine is decarboxylated to form cadaverine which is then converted to aminopropylcadaverine by the aminopropyltransferase, SpeE.

Enzymes

Catalyzes the production of spermidine from putrescine and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dcSAM). Has a strong preference for putrescine as substrate, and has very low activity towards 1,3-diaminopropane. Has extremely low activity towards spermidine.